WORLD CUP 2010: Fabio Capello provides perfect send off as England fly to South Africa

03 Jun 2010 06:42:19

Fabio Capello gave his England players a major boost before boarding the plane to the World Cup last night by committing himself to another two years with the Football Association.
After a frantic few days of emergency talks, culminating in ameeting yesterday between Capello's son Pierfilippo and senior FootballAssociation executives in Leicestershire, the England manager turnedhis back on suitors at Inter Milan by signing a revised contract hoursbefore leaving with his squad for South Africa.
All aboard: Fabio Capello and his 23-man squad prepare to fly out to South Africa
HAVE YOUR SAY... Has Fabio Capello picked the right 23 for the World Cup? Theo Walcott is the most surprising name missing from Fabio Capello's World Cup squad. But there were big decisions too in leaving out Darren Bent, Scott Parker and others. Is the England boss taking the right 23 to South Africa? Who would you have on the plane? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK As Capello's lawyer, Pierfilippo travelled to Melton Mowbray to meetSir Dave Richards and new Club England managing director AdrianBevington at the Stapleford Park hotel, where Richards has beenattending the annual Barclays Premier League conference as chairman.
Franco Baldini, England's general manager, also played a huge rolein resolving a situation complicated not only by the interest fromInter but the sudden departure of Lord Triesman from his role as FAchairman.
Capello complained of being unsettled by Triesman's exit, having'shaken hands' with him on an agreement to remove a clause that enabledboth parties to break the contract after this summer's tournament inSouth Africa.
Staying: Fabio Capello penned a new deal as England jetted off
Bevington travelled back to the team hotel in Hertfordshire yesterdayand Capello signed the revised contract before heading to HeathrowAirport.
In a statement last night the FA said: 'The Football Association canconfirm that Fabio Capello is committed to managing the England teamuntil the 2012 European Championships.
'An amendment to his employment contract was signed and exchangedtoday, with break clause options for both The FA and Fabio beingremoved.'
Warm welcome: England will be staying at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus
Capello said: 'I am very happy about this and would like to thank Sir David Richards and the FA for their continued support and assurances about my future.
'I always wanted to stay until the end of my contract. In South Africa we are totally focused on the World Cup.'
Club England chairman Richards said: 'We're very pleased to have Fabio's commitment for another two years and it's good that we have been able to resolve this before the team fly to South Africa. Now we can all concentrate on the World Cup.'
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